Santa Barbara's Professional Theater Company.

2015-16 Season

17-18 Season (off sale):

HUSBANDS AND WIVES

From the screenplay by Woody Allen

Adapted and Directed by Jonathan Fox

October 5 - 22, 2017

Ensemble Theatre Company opens the 2017-18 Season with a world-premiere adaptation of Woody Allen’s 1992 groundbreaking film, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay. A witty and urbane comic-drama, Husbands and Wives follows two couples, facing middle age squarely in the face, who find themselves questioning their faltering marriages. Woody Allen’s sardonic humor and razor-sharp insight permeate this story of frenetic coupling and un-coupling.

Production Sponsored By: The Pulitzers. With Sponsorship from: John C. Mithun and Mercedes Millington; Helene Segal and George KonstantinowETC's 2017-18 Season Sponsored by Leatrice Luria

The 2017-18 Season launches with an exciting theatrical event— the world-premiere adaptation of Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Jonathan Fox, ETC’s production of Husbands and Wives is just the second of Allen’s many films to be adapted to the stage.

Lesley Fera (Judy) is thrilled to be making her debut at ETC and particularly in this production—the adaptation of one of her all-time favorite Woody Allen films. Most recently, she played Isobel in the West Coast premiere of Mike Bartlett’s BULL at Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles. Among many productions at Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, CA, Lesley played Ruth in the critically acclaimed revival of Pinter's The Homecoming and Lady Chatterley in Lady Chatterley's Lover, for which she received an LADCC Award for her performance. Other notable theatre credits include: Two Dollar Bill (Pioneer Theatre Company); Noises Off (Asolo Repertory Theatre); The Children's Hour (Provincetown Repertory Theatre); Communicating Doors (San Jose Repertory); and Baby Taj (TheatreWorks). TV/Film Credits: Seven seasons on "Pretty Little Liars," as well as recurring roles on "Southland," "24," "C.S.I.: Miami," et al; most recently, she can be seen as Susan in the feature film The Lovers opposite Debra Winger and Tracy Letts; and this fall, she’ll be appearing on Seth McFarlane’s "The Orville." Lesley wishes to thank Jonathan Fox, Woody Allen for his incredible writing, and “The Pack” for their love and support.

Emily Goglia (Crystal/Sam) is so excited to be working at ETC for the first time. Even though she's an Aries - a fire sign - she's happy to be by the Santa Barbara water! Emily recently sang with Christina Aguilera in her "MasterClass" online video, and you may have also caught her in FOX's "Grease, Live!" or on NBC's "The Sing Off" leading the fierce female powerhouse group, ELEMENT. Other favorite roles include Maureen in Rent, Baker's Wife in Into the Woods, Carrie in Carousel, and Maria in West Side Story. Emily's one-woman show, Stages, has been performed at New York's hottest supper clubs, Feinstein's/54 Below, The Metropolitan Room, and LA's Rockwell Table & Stage. Throughout the year, Emily travels the nation with the USO Show Troupe, performing for the military and their families. USC grad. Fight On. Thanks to BBR, CEG, everyone at ETC, and her puppy, Sweeney Dog. www.emilygoglia.com @emilygoglia.

Emily James (Rain) is thrilled to be performing at Ensemble Theatre Company for the first time. She studied at Cal State Fullerton, receiving her BFA in Acting. Since graduation in 2015, she has performed on a few amazing LA stages. She made her professional theater debut at South Coast Rep in the world premiere of Mr. Wolf. Other plays include: Antigone at A Noise Within, Colony Collapse at Boston Court, Stage Kiss at Geffen Playhouse, and Smoke at Rogue Machine Theatre. Her most recent and most cherished experience was producing and acting in We Are Not These Hands by Sheila Callaghan at Rogue Machine Theatre.

Jeff Lorch (Michael) Theater: Rhinoceros, A View From The Bridge, Rocket to the Moon, Of Mice and Men, Blue Dahlia (Pacific Resident Theatre); Need to Know, Uploaded (Rogue Machine Theatre); Modigliani (Open Fist); My Antonia (Rubicon); and many years of improv at Groundlings, iOWest, and UCB. In film, he’s had the pleasure to work with Robert Zemeckis as a lead on an untitled motion capture project, and Jon Gries, who directed him in the little indie hit Pickin’ & Grinnin’. Television: “Master of Sex,” “Criminal Minds,” “Whitney,” “Brothers & Sisters.” A proud UCLA Alumni. Many thanks to Ensemble Theatre Company and Amy Lieberman for this opportunity!

Gabriel Marin (Gabe) Is excited to make his Ensemble Theatre Company debut. Selected Regional: (American Conservatory Theatre) Between Riverside and Crazy, Napoli, The Plays The Thing, Love and Information. (San Francisco Playhouse) Stage Kiss, Storefront Church, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The MotherF**ker with the Hat, Wirehead, Landscape of the Body, Bug, Jesus Hopped the A Train, and Our Lady of 121st St. (Kansas City Rep) Fire in Dreamland. (TheatreWorks) Superior Donuts. (San Jose Rep) The Understudy; Love in American Times. (Marin Theatre Company) A Streetcar Named Desire, It's a Wonderful Life, Live Radio Play, Bellwether. (Aurora Theatre Company) Rapture, Blister Burn, This Is How It Goes, Collapse, Jack Goes Boating, The Devil's Disciple, St. Joan, The Glass Menagerie, Gunplay. (Magic Theatre) The Happy Ones, Tape, The Rues of Charity. (Kitchen Theatre) Birds of East Africa. (Center Rep) Mirandolina, The Book Club Play, Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World, A Number, Arms and the Man, Noises Off, Rumors, Tuesdays with Morrie. He has performed on NBC, CBS, PBS and the BBC.

Nicholas Santa Maria (Ensemble) was born and raised in New York, but has been a rabid California fan for the last 16 years. On Broadway: Tommy Tune's GREASE! (Vince Fontaine), and Mel Brooks' The Producers (where he played over 21 different roles in every production, from Broadway to Tokyo to Las Vegas). On film Nick can be seen in The Producers remake, Holy Man, and starring in the soon to be released The Adventures of Biffle and Shooter. Regionally he has starred 4 times as Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, as Oscar Madison in the Odd Couple, and as Alan in the south-eastern premier of God of Carnage. Nick has also co-written the book, music, and lyrics for a new musical which has been produced off-Broadway at New World Stages. It's called Real Men, The Musical and he's very proud of it. Nick is thrilled to be making his debut with Ensemble Theater Company in this exciting premier, based on a film by one of his heroes, Woody Allen. Love to Gabby, and to my amazing parents.

Alicia Sedwick (Sally) is thrilled to return to ETC, where she worked in its early days, as Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men. Some thirty years later, she returned to win an Indy award for her performance as Margie in Good People. Before moving to LA, Alicia was a NYC-based actress for over a decade, performing Off-Broadway (Lady Macbeth) and in regional theaters, including The Old Globe, American Conservatory Theatre (where she was a company member), Hudson Valley Shakespeare, and The Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Alicia met and worked with ETC Artistic Director Jonathan Fox at his New Jersey Two River Theatre Company in productions including The Heidi Chronicles, The Illusion, and The Dining Room. She has made numerous national commercials and voiceovers, and television credits include "Law and Order" and "LA Dragnet." Alicia recently produced the nationally syndicated radio show Experience Talks, and for the last fourteen years has co-produced Spark Off Rose, a live monthly storytelling event in LA. She received her M.F.A. in Acting from The American Conservatory Theatre and currently teaches College Acting, Movement, and Conceptual Storytelling. Alicia also coaches and edits speeches for national non-profits, TED Talks, and corporate speakers.

Book Club, Oct 11, 2017, 5:30 - 6:30pm: Scripts are now available for checkout at the Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 East Anapamu Street. Join other theatregoers for a lively discussion about the play from a literary and dramatic perspective. FREE!
Pre-Show Talk, Oct 11 & 18, 2017 at 7:15 pm: Join us in the courtyard of The New Vic for an informative and insightful discussion about the play before you see it, sure to enhance your theatrical experience.
Martini Night, Oct 13, 2017 at 7:15pm, performance at 8:00pm: Free to ticket holders. Come early to enjoy a complimentary martini and mingle before the show.
Talk Back, Oct 19, 2017: Meet the cast after the show and discuss the production.

HUSBANDS & WIVES

Ensemble Theatre Company is pleased to offer additional information to our patrons who are interested in learning more about the history surrounding our productions. The Salon Packet for HUSBANDS AND WIVES is now available at etcdramaturgy.wordpress.com

"One reason it works so well is that Fox has assembled an excellent cast. Another is the innovative use of a live video feed that allows the audience to observe the action from multiple angles and to follow the characters into the wings for some of the show’s wildest scenes."
Read the full Santa Barbara Independent review here.